1 Peter 3:4

“Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as "my dear husband." You'll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.”
1 Peter 3:4 (MSG)

Photograph courtesy of : Sylwester Kepa

You need only to look at a tree to realize that God loves all different shapes and sizes… some are tall and lean…others short and squatty… some have prickly leaves…others have leaves that change colors in season. And I guess sometimes I need to look at trees to remember that the world sets specific expectations for beauty in my form, and shape, and color, and peculiarities but to God those things have no real bearing on what He finds beautiful. Deep in our core He placed a storehouse of beauty and with every kind word, every moment of grace and gratitude that is when that beauty is revealed… like a cherry blossom on a limb in the spring.

We are buds of beauty but that beauty does not bloom until we let what’s inside out… in how we speak, and how we act and react with our fellow man. In those moments as we cultivate grace that inner beauty shines through and the world sees that you are a stunning magnificent creature. You are! Did you know that? You are beautiful…it’s in there and the world is better when you let it out …so graciously bloom…because it’s time for that bud of yours to burst!

That is your promise for today!